Chronic Nausea...IBS or Nissen? - Digestive Disorders Message Board

MountainReader · 03-25-2009, 09:38 PM

For the last 5 months or so, I've been having periods of chronic nausea. It is at its worst when I wake and takes 4-5 hours before calming. Sometimes I will do OK in the afternoon, other days the nausea remains. I have had a Nissen and cannot vomit. I'm spending my mornings gagging/choking/dry heaving. It is miserable because my body is trying to do its job to expel while it is also pushing against itself. Things just kind of bounce back and forth in my stomach. It makes it tough to get to work on time too. So far, nothing has come up, but I worry that something will the first time I'm not near the bathroom.

I had my Nissen surgery last October. It was a couple weeks later that I officially was diagnosed with IBS-A (formerly IBS-D). The IBS diagnosis took about 5 months. Prior to the surgery, I didn't have any nausea problems. I haven't been able to figure out any food or lifestyle nausea triggers yet. I don't know if I am dealing with an IBS issue, a Nissen issue or both.

I do have a prescription for Phenegren. It helps a bit. Even when it does help though, it takes a long time to take effect. I've taken Zofran in the past (post surgery) and had some success with it, but my GI doc won't prescribe it for me because he prefers the Phenegren.

It has been a long miserable week for me. I'd love to hear any suggestions. Is nausea a problem for those of you with IBS or who have had a Nissen? What other kinds of things can I do to help calm the nausea?

HopeFloats7 · 04-10-2009, 12:13 AM

Talk to your doc again and ask him to give you a Rx for Zofran. It really does work faster than phenergan and doesn't have all the side effects and it can be taken longer periods of time than phenergan. If he won't, just because he prefers it that way, talk to him. And then if he won't you might want to see another doctor, a local GP that will write you a Rx for Zofran. Everyone is different and what works for one may not work for another.

I had a nissen fundoplication with pylorplasty and I'm unable to vomit as well, which was the point for me because before it I was throwing up and some stuff was getting in my lungs and it would give me pneumonia. As long as your nissen is snug, you will not bring anything up. Sometimes over years, it can loosen and may need to be re-tightened. But you don't need to run to the bathroom when your dry heaving. You know those pink emesis pans they have in the hospital for you to throw up in, just keep one of those handy and some kleenex and you'll be fine.

Hope things improve for you!

Tahoetonia · 03-30-2011, 02:43 PM

Hello MountainReader and HopeFloats7! I am excited to see someone on here who has has the Nissen as well as the Pyloroplasty. I had my surgery in Sept. 09 and a Gallbladder removal in May 09.

I can relate with you on the nausea, not being able to vomit. When I do have to vomit, it hurts really bad and only white thick spit comes up. I have been having swallowing problems and not being able to burp since the surgery. I had my wrap stretched 5 months ago and the moment I was able to burp was a happy day! I do have times when I feel the air caught in my throat, the lump as I call it, and can't eat or drink until I can burp the air out. It is weird.

I have been seeing a specialist from Stanford for almost a year now and he is thinking my problem is within my esophagus mainly and well as the already known gastroparesis.

I suffer from nausea so much that I take Phenegran like candy, along with Nortriptyline nightly for stomach motility. I recently had my second Empty Gastric Study that proved gastroparesis.

After seeing my doctor in Stanford this past Monday, he recommends one more Upper GI
to check things out inside one more time. (I have this test this Friday) I also have one more endoscopy tomorrow to look one last time at what may be going on.

His recommendation is to possibly reverse the wrap. I think my jaw dropped to the floor just thinking of the pain I endured for so long to recover from the first one. I still have weird pains that I believe could be some adhesions.

I have not had a life for 2 solid years now and I am ready to look into Chinese medicine or something. I think about all of those years since I was a kid with my stomach problems and throwing up out of my nose that it was just me. I thought this Lap Nissen would solve all of my problems, boy was I mistaken. If we reverse the wrap, won't I throw up out of my nose again and have the GERD and the blackened esophagus?

I have a six year old daughter who is along with my husband really tired of me being sick all of the time. Don't get me wrong, they are both really strong and take great care of me. My husband has literally kept me alive when my doctors didn't know what to do.

The main concern I have is the weight loss. I weighed 117lbs in Feb. 09' and dropped down to 89lbs at the lowest in March 10'.
I was hospitalized and put on TPN(Total Paritoneal Nutrition) to gain weight. I also had SIBO(Small Intestinal Bacterial Overgrowth) that was the main culprit that was slowly killing me and the cause of weight loss. I had to go to Stanford to get that figured out.

Again, in Dec. 10' I asked my doctor to put me back on TPN because I had gotten Strep and Tonsilitis and gotten down to 91lbs again. My weight got up to 104 and today it is 97lbs. I have a problem with that! No one wants to give me a job, living in a small town and everyone knowing my unstable health condition. It is very frustrating and depressing, and I just want my life to be at least a little normal. I mostly stay at home to avoid having to see my friends and explain why I am so skinny AGAIN!!

I would love some advice on this situation, my time to make a decision about this could be very soon.